Com press ion-coupling



No. 625,948. Patented May 30, I899. F. 'L. BICKEL. COMPRESSION .GUUPLING.

A lication filed on. 12, 189

(No Model.)

FIG. 1

FIG. 5.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIGE.

FREDERICK L. BIOKELQOF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPRESSION-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,948, dated May 30, 1899.

Application filed October 12,1898. Serial No. 693,275. (NO model- To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERICK L. BIoKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Compression-Couplings, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

My invention relates to a compression-con pling device primarily adapted to couple separate lengths of shafting. It is simple in construction. It does not involve any conical turning. It affords a very gradual and therefore a very strong compression. Each half of the coupling may be clamped to a shaft irre-. spective of the operation of the other half. No separate piece is needed to perform the operation of uncoupling. Y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal central section of a coupling device embodyingmy invention, the two coupled shaft ends being shown in situ. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same along the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the coupling loosened and the shaft end removed. Figs. 4 and 5 are separate views of the tapered blocks E F, Fig. l.

A is the external barrel of my coupling. Through it is cut a large cylindrical hole. Within this eccentric hole there fits at both ends an eccentric split annulus, the eccentricity of the annulus being equal to the eccentricity of the hole cutin the barrel, so that the central ring of the annulus is concentric with the barrel. Taking, for example, the left-hand end of Fig. 1 as seen in-the section Fig. 2, the eccentric annulus is split into two equal segments B B, the split occurring along the axis of eccentricity. At the narrowends of these segments there is little or none of the annulus removed at the point of splitting beyond that which necessarily results from cutting them apart. At the-broad endsa sufficient amount of metal is removed fronithe opposing ends of the segments to allow for the requisite amount of rotation within the barrel to effect the loosening and fastening of the coupling. When the segments are so rotated that their narrow ends nearly touch,

their interior surfaces form a practically perfect circle, broken only for a short distance between the broad ends of the segments and clamping tightly upon the shaft C, which they are designed to fit. This is the position shown in Fig. 2. 0n the otherhand, if-the segments are rotated until their broad ends approach or touch each other the shaft is released. This is the position shown in Fig. 3.

D represents a key inserted between the shaft and one of the segments in a suitable keyway out between them.

Along the inside of the barrel, opposite each of the splits between the segments, is cut a straight slideway ef. Similarly the ends of the segments at each split are partially cut away into tapered slideways e f. \Vithin the double ways thus formed run the tapered blocks E F, the straight portions of which run in the straight slideways cut in the barrel, while their tapered portions correspond in taper to and run within the tapered'slideways between the ends of the segments. The greater portion of the block E is straight and runs in the barrel. block F is tapered and runs between the segments. Lengthwise through each of these blocks is cut ascrew-th read, which receives a bolt g h. Between the heads ofwthe bolts and. the surface ofthe barrel and segments washers z' are interposed.

The right-hand end of the coupling (seen in Fig. 1) is the exact counterpart of the lefthand end, which has been described.

The partial rotation of the segments, by which the fastening and loosening of the coupling are effected, is accomplished by the sliding of the blocks E F. In order to fasten the coupling, the block E, corresponding to the narrow ends of the segments, is sent to the bottom of its ways by rotating the screw 9. Theblock F is then brought as far forward as possible by rotation of the screw' h, its wedging action separating the broad ends of the segments and clamping the coupling strongly to the shaft. When this has been accomplished, the screw. 9 is rotated sufficiently to draw the block E into firm engagement to prevent rattling, and the coup- The greater portion of the ling is elfected, the parts occupying the position shown in Fig. 2. To disengage the coupling, the screw h is rotated until the block F is sent to the lower end of its way,

and then the screw 9 is rotated so as to draw the block E forward, which by its wedging action divides the segments at their narrow ends, releasing the coupling.

It is evident that each half of my coupling is independent of the action of the other half, although in structure and operation they are the same.

Although I have described my device with reference to its adaptation to a double shaftcoupling, either half of such a coupling is operative by itself and may be used as a compression hub or clamp or as a friction-coupling.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A eompression-coupling, consisting of an exterior barrel witha cylindrical hole; an eccentric annulus fitting within the same, divided along its axis of eccentricity into two annular segments, each segment being sufiieiently cut away at its broad end to allow its partial rotation within the barrel; positive means whereby the narrow ends of the segments may be caused to approach each other and clamp a shaft within them; and corre-' sponding positive means whereby the broad ends may be caused to approach each other for the purpose of unclamping, substantially as described;

2. Acompression-coupling, consistingofan exterior barrel Witha cylindrical hole; an cecentric annulus fitting within the same, divided along its axis of eccentricity into two annular segments, each segment being sulliciently cut away at its broad end to allow its partial rotation within the barrel; a tapered way out partially between each of the opposing ends of the segments; correspondinglytapered blocks running in these ways; and means for positively controlling the position of these blocks within their ways, substantially as described.

FREDERICK L. BICKEL.

Vi tnessesz' JAMES H. BELL, RANDOLPH SATLER. 

